WINN County, LA

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,755 people, 5,483 households, and 3,661 families residing in the parish.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,894 people, 5,930 households, and 4,234 families residing in the parish. The population density was 18 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 7,502 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 66.27% White, 32.03% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.9% were of American, 7.2% Irish and 4.9% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,930 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 110.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.20 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $25,462, and the median income for a family was $31,513. Males had a median income of $29,094 versus $17,939 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $11,794. About 17.00% of families and 21.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 24.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Winn Parish School Board operates local public schools.

There is also the Huey P. Long Campus of Louisiana Technical College in Winnfield. The facility is being relocated from downtown to north of Winnfield on U.S. Highway 167. Funding for the structure was obtained by former State Senator Mike Smith of Winnfield.

New Winn Parish Library

A new Winn Parish Library opened in Winnfield in 2014. The 11,000 square-foot building cost $2.5 million and houses 75,000 books, 420 periodicals, and sixteen computer stations. There are also facilities for children, special-needs citizens, genealogy and history buffs, and access to on-line higher-education studies.

Public libraries in Louisiana began as early as 1920, with the establishment of the Louisiana Library Commission, the forerunner to the State Library of Louisiana. Assistance from the Carnegie Foundation began in 1925. The Winn Parish facility opened in 1937 during the administration of Governor Richard Leche in a former bank building on Main Street. Winn was the first of three parishes to vote a library tax millage.

In 1940, property owners voted for a three-mil maintenance tax for the library. After World War II, the library was moved to a wooden building, also on Main Street and one block west of the parish courthouse. In 1954, a brick structure replaced the wooden building at the same location, a project pushed by the then library director, Ruby Hanks. After sixty years, the new library now sits at the corner of Main and St. John streets. Construction of the facility was financed by a $2 million bond issue approved by voters in 2012. It is maintained by property taxes.

There are also branch libraries in Atlanta, Calvin, Dodson, and Sikes, with a total collection in the branches of nearly 80,000 books.

Corrections

Corrections Corporation of America, under contract with Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, operates the Winn Correctional Center in an unincorporated section of Winn Parish.

National Guard

A Company 199TH FSB (Forward Support Battalion) was previously located in Winnfield, Louisiana. The unit deployed twice to Iraq as part of the 256TH IBCT in 2004-5 and 2010. The unit's Winnfield Armory was closed.

Communities

City

Town

Villages

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Hospital

Politics

Notable people